Bee Travel
Hotel search is time-consuming quest
CHRISTINE HICKS- USTA
Ican't tell you how exhausted I am. Do you know how many Web sites it takes to locate the hotel most suitable for a vacation? To obtain the best rate at said best hotel? To score the best price on attraction tickets? Not to mention the creativity and persistence to think of all possible permutations and combinations? Phew! As Julia Roberts said in the memorable office scene in the movie "Erin Brockovich," "I really am quite tired."

Hemmed, as always, by my Scottish thrift, at a time when I'm saving every cent possible for "the big trip" (Egypt - in late '08 or '09, I hope), an opportunity came along to attend a seminar in Orlando. This posed a challenge. How little could I spend to have the best possible time? My brain awash in wanderlust, the quest began.

The first question was: which hotel? This permutated into how many nights and how much fun could I have...for $500? This self-imposed target had to include all my expenses. The air ticket was negotiable. For while I had air miles in my pocket, there's something frivolous about expending air miles for a $69 air route.

My criterion was to locate the lowest-priced, uncreepy, unbuggy, decently maintained, air-conditioned motel (for two nights) that offered free transportation to Universal Studios, near the seminar hotel (on a transportation route, if possible) and with a decent pool. I also wanted it to be accessible to a supermarket. Breakfast and evening cocktails will - must - be taken "in" to stay within budget. It took me three days and Web site hits aplenty.

My quest looked something like this: Hotels.com, TripAdvisor.com, Priceline.com (never mind), Mapquest.com, AAA.com, AARP.com, check the Entertainment Book and Web site, ruminate on prices with consequences versus prices with flexibility, repeat steps one and two to check for available transportation, repeat step four to verify distance to the seminar hotel, check seminar hotel Web site because I just had to see what their price really is (think three times $42), RodewayInns.com, Hotels. com to verify available price, and finally RodewayInns. com to book and request lower rate seen at Hotels. com. In truth, I could have gotten an even lower rate (by pennies) through the Entertainment Book but would have had to forego the ability to cancel without penalty, something those pennies bought me in the event plans fall through between now and October. Here's what I got: a reportedly clean Rodeway Inn for under $42 a night ($47 with tax). I'll report subsequently on the accuracy of the cleanliness reports.

I wasn't done yet. I e-mailed one of my sisters. I could fly to her place in Tampa, pick up a guest to share expenses (hotel cut in half), her car to provide all transportation (though I will share gas expense) and someone with whom to share the adventure. She was game; it was over a weekend. How could she say no?

Now...what about those attraction tickets? More on this - and why a travel agent can be your best friend - next week.

(Christine Hicks-Usta has enjoyed more than 30 years of globe-trotting as a member of the travel industry in various capacities. Direct questions to her at Bee Group Newspapers, P.O. Box 150, Buffalo, NY 14231-0150.)